Apparatus for electroplating wire or the like



June 1940- .1. SCHUELER ,0

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING WIRE OR THE LIKE Filed March 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fgz 8 idem.- azmfl wh June 4, 1940. J. L. SCHUELER 2,203,062

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING wm: OR THE' LIKE Filed March 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 4, 1940. J. 1.. SCHUELER 2,203,062

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING WIRE OR THE LIKE Fil ed llarch 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I II II mun: l

ILL] llll @Hllill'l June 4, 1940. J. scHuELER APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING WIRE OR THE LIKE Filed March 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 XXX @QQQQ \Q h m v E SE 23% 233w Qcw RA nlc a? Al E wm 335 22.

Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED sures g 2.203.002 APPARATUS FOR ELECTBOPLATING WIRE OR THE LIKE Julian L. Schueler, Kokomo, Ind., alsignor to Continental Steel Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a

corporation of Indiana Application March 21,

. 4 Claims.

The apparatus of the present invention is designed for the performance of a continuous proces of electroplating wire or flexible strips of metal by a continuous operation; that is to say, by continualiy feeding the wire or strip (which for convenience will be hereinafter included under the term wire") through the plating bath and affording a sufficiently elongated path of travel therethrough to provide the necessary period of time required for the deposition of the metal coating. 1

The invention in particular relates to the employmentv of a vertically'disposed tank or well or to a group of such tanks or wells, which may be constructed of the necessary depth to afford the required period of travel for the wire through the coating bath without devoting an excessive amount of floor space to the apparatus. Thus the tank .(or tanks), if desired, may be sunk below the floor level to any-desired depth and the convolutions of the advancing wire will in the main follow a vertical path so that a sumcient period of travel will be aflorded without extending the apparatus to an excessive degree in a horizontal :5 direction.

1 The invention is one which permits the extent of travel of the wire to-be regulated in such a way as to permit the deposition of either a light, medium, or heavy coating, depending upon the so number of turns-or convolutions utilized as well as the. speed of travel of the wire, and at the same time the arrangement is one which permits the simultaneous coating of a multiplicity of wires, each of which will be guided and directed as through the bath or baths independently of the other.

The invention furthermore relates to the form and arrangement of the anodes which in conjunction with the wires acting as cathodes afford the poles for the travel of the current through the electrolyte path, the anodes being so formed as to 1 almost surround the cathodes, thereby providing for the even and continuous deposition of the metal coating throughout, practically the entire period of immersion.

The invention also relates to the means provided for raising and lowering the frames carrying the turns of wire as occasion may require;

to the construction and arrangement of the tank and the means provided for maintaining circulation of the electrolyte; to the means provided for heating the electrolyte to the desired degree; to

the wire guide sheaveson the tank which are swiveled to maintain a uniform plane of travel for the wires; and to the general construction and arrangement of the apparatus as a whole.

Further objects and details-will appear from a description of the invention in conjunction with the drawings, wherein- 50 Figure lisaplan viewlooking downintoa 1937, Serial No. 133.392

(CL 20H) tank which is divided into a multiplicity of cells or compartments, each of which is provided with the appliances required for the guiding and coating of a wire;

Pig. 2 is a sectional elevation "taken on line 2-2 of- Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a convenient method for raising and lowering the frames which carry the wires within the cells;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the means provided for feeding a multiplicity of wires from the delivery spools to the takeup reels;

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing how a. group or battery of plating tanks may be employed through which the wires are successively fed; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the entire roup of mechanisms required for annealing, cleaning, washing, plating and spooling wire by a continuous operation.

It will be understood that the wires are prefer ably subjected to a preliminary treatment by acid or the like to thoroughly cleanse the surface in preparation for the deposition of the metallic coating, and the present invention in its broader aspects includes the mechanism for performing these operations as part of a continuous process,

, although certain of the features of the present invention pertain particularly to the mechanisms involved in the deposition of the metallic coating. The apparatus as a whole, including the annealing bath, the acid cleaning bath, the washing bath, and the plating bath, are all arranged as illustrated in Fig. 6, and so disposed as to facilitate convenience in operation and economy of space, as 'well as eflectiveness in the stringing, feeding and tensioning of the wires in a manner which will be fully explained.

The plating tank or tanks for containing the electrolyte are of vertically elongated formation and may stand vertically upon the floor or within a well below the floor level. For purposes of convenient description I will refer to the construction of asingle plating tank, it being understood that the number of tanks may be multiplied as indicated in Fig. 5. The tank as shown consists of outer side walls I of heavy timbered construction, together with similar end walls 8, and a base or bottom 9.

Each plating tank may be constructed of a depth of twenty-five feet, which would afford a wire immersion of substantially fifty feet; and if two or more tanks are employed in tandem arrangement, this will enable the period of immersion to be multiplied to the extent desired. That is to say, fifty feet of immersion may be advantageously employed for a light coating; one

hundred feet for a medium coating, and one hundred fifty feet fora heavy coating while traveling at a uniform rate of speed.

Each of the tanks is divided into cells by the provision of cross partitions I0, preferably formed of insulating material, slidably secured between strips or battens ll secured to the side walls. Each cell is provided on the side walls of the tank with vertically extending bars l2 of insulating material secured to the walls of the tank by countersunk screws I3, and each bar I2 affords a base or support for an insoluble positive electrode or anode l4, the anodes being of split tubular formation having an inwardly facing gap l5. Each cell is provided with oppositely facing anodes with the gaps in alignment, and these gaps afiord clearance for the opposite ends of wire guide arms IS, a plurality of which are carried by a hangar bar H, which at its lower end journals a grooved guide sheave l 8. Between each hangar bar and one cross partition adjacent thereto are spacer blocks i 9, bolts 20 being extended between each hanger bar and cross partition unit to unite these parts for vertical sliding movement in unison. If desired, a further partition 2| slidably secured in place may be associated with each hanger bar-cross partition unit in closely adjacent relation thereto whereby to maintain separation between the cells independ-- ently of the cross partition l0.

Each of the wire guide arms is provided in each of its ends with a wire aperture 22 aligned with the groove in the sheave l8, and in operation are also aligned with the groove in an upper guide sheave 23 carried by an overhanging bracket 24 swiveled at its'lower end within a journaled recess 25 to afford a caster mounting for the sheave 23. Each of the hanger bars I1. is provided at it supper end with an eye 26 which is adapted to receive a hook 21 on the end .of a cable 28 passing over a traveling hoist 29, which arrangement permits the hangers with attached cross partitions to be individually lifted from the cells as occasion may require.

Each of the split tubular anodes is provided at or near its upper end with a binding post connection 30 which receives the end of a conductor 3| outwardly extending from a buss bar 32 suitably connected with a source of electrical energywhich serves to energize the anodes, while the wire itself is energized through the medium of a buss bar 33 having a brush connection 34 bearing upon the journal 35 of the upper sheave 23, so that the turns of wire themselves will constitute the cathodes, each turn of wire passing down from the guide sheave on one side of the tank cell and around the lower sheave, and thence upwardly around the companion upper guide sheave, which completes .the circuit through the wire itself.

Where it is desired to provideImeans for heating the electrolyte to maintain the same at the desired temperature, the sidewalls of the tank are recessed to provide space for-the-location of heating coils 36, and, in order to maintain a circulation of the electrolyte to insure a proper diffusion thereof to all portions of the tank, a circulating system is provided which includes an apertured discharge pipe 31 extending along the base of the tank, which connects through a lead of pipe 38 with a pump 39 connected by an upper intake pipe 40 with the upper portion of the tank. I

Where the tank is used for the plating of previously formed and spooled wires in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, the wires are led individually from a bank of spools or coils 4| and over the adjacent upper guide sheave, and thence downwardly to the base of the tank and around the associated lower guide sheave, thence upwardly to the companion upper guide sheave, and finally to the associated takeup reel 42. In

the arrangement illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4, the delivery spools are mounted upon vertical axes and arranged in staggered relation to conserve space, with the takeup reels arranged on horizontal axes and the wires passing out over idle guide rolls 43 and 44 to give them the intended direction of movement to the associated takeup reel. This indicates an arrangement which is very economical of floor space, since the great preponderance oftravel of the wires is in a vertical direction down into and thence up and out of the coating tank. Where a battery of tanks is employed, as in Fig. 5, the same arrangement is provided, except that each wire in succession passes from one tank to the next throughout a series and thence to the takeup reel, each of the wire guide sheaves being energized to distribute the current throughout all sections of the wire which require energizing.

The arrangement is one which brings the surfaces of the anodes into close proximity with the wires during practically the entire period of immersion, and the tubular formation of the anodes insures that the wires will be evenly guided onall sides and at the same time brings the anode and cathode surfaces throughout practically the entire period of immersion into close proximity to one another,-which is a highly advantageous arrangement, in that it centers the current flow uniformly upon all sides of the immersed wires.

By providing a swivel or caster mounting for the upper guide sheaves, the same may be swung out of position to permit the raising and lowering of the hangers which carry the wire guides, thereby permitting the latter to be easily lifted by means of the tackle described, which enables ready repair or renewal to be'made from time to time as occasion may require.

Where two or more tanks are employed as a' designed to permit any number of wires to be coated up to the full capacity, or to permit different wires to be coatedin different degree with out any change or readjustment in the operating conditions.

Where the plating tank or tanks heretofore described are utilized as constituents in a continuous process, the arrangement shown in Fig. 6-is employed. In this case the wire or wires are led directly through an annealing tank 45 of horizontally elongated formation and of comparatively low elevation above the floor level 46. The annealing tank preferably containsa bath of molten lead through which the wire is directed by means of rollers 41, and after emergence from the annealing bath the wire is directed downwardly through a well 48 and under a guide sheave 49 carried by a hanger 50 which affords a sumciently extended vertical path of travel to .permit the necessary cooling, after which the emergence from the washing bath the wire passes over the first sheave 23 and into the plating tank heretofore described. A nozzle 55 directs a water spray upon the wire after its emergence from the washing bath and before its entry into the plating tank.

The trolley and tackle are sumciently extended to lift the sheave 49 and the hanger 50 from the cooling well and also to manipulate the sheaves II which are normally located within the plat-' ing tank, or group of tanks, as the. case may be.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is a highly desirable one in that it involves a combination of horizontally and vertically arranged tanks or wells which is economical of space and permits a great length of wire to be readily manipulated and properly tensioned in the maintenance of suitable operating conditions for the performance of a continuous process. In the threading of the wires it is necessary only to lay the wire above the cooling well and plating tank and to lift the associated sheaves by the trolley and tackle mechanism to a point above the wire in order to loop the wire upon the sheaves, after which the lowering of the sheaves will carry down the length of wire required to afford the two turns of the wire required in the threading operation. Where additionaltanks are present, each wire will of course be drawn forward sufllciently around all of the sheaves involved in a continuous passage of the wire to the takeup spool. After the threading operation has been thus completed, power is applied to draw the wire continuously forward through the various mechanisms composing the entire operating group. I

The arrangement is one which enables the manipulation of the wire to be easily performed without any danger of kinking or displacement of the wire during the threading operation, and thereafter permits the proper tension to be maintained at all times to insure a smooth and uniform feeding of the wire throughout the entire apparatus.

The arrangement of the trolley and tackle mechanism is one which enables the proper lengths of wire to be drawn out by the mere operation of lowering the attached sheave to the bottom of the well or tank, and this operation can be repeated by the same tackle as many times as is necessary in order to establish the complete line of travel of the wire.

The takeup spools or reels are preferably located on the same floor level, so that all of the operations requiring manipulation in the treating of the wire can be readily performed within a reasonably small compass, although the length of travel of the wire can be multiplied as many times as desired by the provision of tanks extending to the desired depth below the floor level. Provision can thus be made for any length of wire travel desired in order to obtain the necessary coating deposit. 3

Although the apparatus has been described with considerable particularity as to detail, it is not the intention to limit the invention to the features described, since modification can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In wire plating apparatus, the combination- 'of a tank for electrolyte, a verctically removable hanger suspended within the tank and provided at its lower end with a sheave adapted to have the wire passed around it, the hanger being further provided with laterally extending guides for the wire, a pair of oppositely disposed anodes fixedly supported within the tank in spaced relation to one another and each of split tubular formation and having its gap presented inwardly toward the hanger to receive the wire guides and ailford clearance for the lifting of the hanger with the sheave and wire guides mounted thereon, the sheave and wire guides being configured to cause travel of the turns of wire through the interior of the respective anodes, and means for energizing the anodes and the wire.

2. In wire plating apparatus, the combination of a tank for electrolyte, a vertically removable hanger suspended within the tank and provided at its lower end with a sheave adapted to have the wire passed around it, the hanger being further provided with laterally extending guides for the wire, a pair of oppositely disposed anodes fixedly supported within the tank in spaced relation to one another and each of split tubular formation andhaving its gap presented inwardly toward the hanger to receive the wire guides and afford clearance for the lifting of the hanger with the sheave and wire guides mounted thereon, the sheave and wire guides being configured to cause travel of the turns of wire through the interior of the respective anodes, upper sheaves for directing the wire inwardly through one of the anodes and outwardly through the other anode, and means for energizing the anodes and the wire. I

3. In wire plating apparatus, the combination of a tank for electrolyte, a vertically removable hanger suspended within the tank and provided at its lower end with a sheave adapted to have the wire passed around it, the hanger being further provided with laterally extending guides for the wire, a pair of oppositely disposed anodes fixedly supported within the tank in spaced relation to one another and each of split tubular formation and having its gap presented inwardly toward the hanger to receive the wire guides and afiord clearance for the lifting of the hanger with the sheave and wire guides mounted thereon, the sheave and wire guides being configured to cause travel of the turns of wire through the interior of the respective anodes, upper guide members aligned with respective anodes for directing the wire inwardly through one of the anodes and outwardly through the other anode, and means for energizing the anodes and the wire. 1

4. In a wire plating apparatus the combination of a tank for electrolyte, a vertically removable hanger suspended within the tank and provided at its lower end with a sheave adapted to have the wire passed around it, a pair of vertically arranged substantially parallel anodesfixedly supported within the tank on'opposite sides of the hanger, each of split tubular formation and having its gap presented inwardly toward the hanger to afford clearance on each side for the entrance of the periphery of the sheave within the interior of the tubular anodes and to permit the hanger and sheave to be lifted vertically through the anodes and means above the upper ends of the respective anodes to guide the wire downwardly through one of the anodes and around the sheave and upwardly through the other anode.

JULIAN L. SCHUELER. 

